Tool for replacing oil filters



Dec. 4, 1962 L. F. HARVEL ETAL 3,066,559

TOOL FOR REPLACING OIL FILTERS Filed March 29. 1 61 Loyd l-T Harve/ Robert 6. Meisen/reimer INVENTORS l BY 2 20 25 1a 50 Q5 y ,3

United States Patent @hice 3 066,559 TGOL FOR RETELACTNG OIL FILTERS Loyd F. Harvel, 432 W. Central, and Robert C. Meisenheimer, 31% Kenny St., both of Bethalto, Ill. Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,153 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-53) This invention relates to a novel and useful tool for replacing throw-away type oil filter cartridges of the type including a generally cylindrical casing having threads on one end adapted for threaded engagement with a supporting portion of an engine block with which the oil filter is associated.

There have in the past been various types of tools provided for removing container covers but most of these have proven to be ineffective for replacing the throw-away type of oil filter cartridges recently employed in the manufacture of vehicle internal combustion engines. The tools for removing closure caps for containers have in the past utilized various types of tools provided with wedging carn elements and flexible straps but these tools have proven to be undesirable for use in replacing throwaway type oil filter cartridges. Some of these prior tools have not been provided with means for frictionally gripping a container such as a throw-away type oil filter cartridge tight enough to prevent the tool from slipping about the oil filter cartridge. Because the removable throw-away type oil filter cartridge is subjected to high temperatures, its threaded engagement with the internal combustion engine to which it is secured oftentimes requires considerably more torque to remove the cartridge than possible with the ineffective means by which prior tools are adapted to engage lids or screw type covers. As a result, the tool, upon applying suificient torque thereon to loosen the throwaway type oil filter cartridge, will slip relative to the cartridge and cause frustration on the part of the mechanic as well as rendering it possible for the mechanic removing the oil filter cartridge to damage his hands. Additionally, prior known tools for removing screw tops and the like have for the most part been provided with long lever handles which make it very difficult to use the tool in confined areas such as beneath internal combustion engines of the type currently used in the manufacture of motor vehicles.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide a tool for replacing throw-away type oil filter cartridges that will enable the oil filter cartridge to be positiveiy gripped by the tool and enable the tool to be turned by means of conventional garage handles such as a socket wrench.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide the tool of the instant invention with a means by which a socket wrench or the like may be engaged with the tool at a point in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical throw-away type oil filter cartridge with which the tool is engaged whereby the tool may be engaged directly by a socket wrench or by a suitable socket wrench extension thereby enabling the mechanic removing the oil filter cartridge to place the tool to which torque is to be applied in a non-confined area.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tool specifically adapted to handle the more or less standardized diameter of throw-away type filter cartridges.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tool which will conform to the conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent residue in the details of 3,066,559 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tool shown engaged with a conventional type of throw-away oil filter cartridge;

FIGURE 2 is a further perspective view of the tool taken from a different angle;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the tool shown engaging a cylindrical throw-away type oil filter cartridge, the oil filter cartridge being shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4- of FIGURE 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional type of cylindrical throw-away type oil filter cartridge. The outer end of the cylindrical cartridge 10 is provided with radially extending ribs 12 to afford a better grip by any tool being used to remove the cartridge. The upper end of the cartridge Ill is provided with internal threads (not shown) adapted to be threadedly engaged with a sup porting portion of an internal combustion engine (not shown).

The tool of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 and includes a body portion generally referred to 'by the reference numeral 18 having a bottom wall 2%. The bottom wall 29 is generally circular but is provided with a radially projecting mounting lug portion 22. An upstanding abutment wall 24 is carried by one peripheral side edge of the bottom wall 20 and the abutment wall 24 includes a. concave inner abutment surface as which defines a segment of a circle. A square opening 28 is formed in the bottom wall 20 and the center of the opening 28 defines the center of the circle of which the concave abutment surface 26 comprises a part.

The mounting lug 22 is provided with a smooth bore 30 and a cam element generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 includes a threaded bore 34. A headed fastener generally referred to by the reference numeral 36 and including a head portion 38 has its threaded shank portion 40 inserted through the bore 30 from beneath a mounting lug 22 and threadedly engaged in a threaded bore 34 formed in the cam element 32. The cam element 32 includes a cam surface 44 and a portion of the cam surface 44 is provided with teeth d6. It will be noted that the fastener 36 may be adjusted so that the cam element 32 will be frictionally maintained in adjusted positions about its axis of rotation defined by the threaded shank portion 40 and the fastener 36.

The abutment wall 24 extends more than degrees about the opening 28 and it will be observed that the oil filter cartridge 16 is of a diameter to be snugly received within the confines of the abutment wall 24. Accordingly, it will be observed that the tool 18 may not be engaged with the container 1t from the side thereof but must be engaged with the container 19 by movement. of the tool 10 axially of the cartridge 18. in this manner, once the tool 18 is engaged with the cartridge 10, as long as thrust is applied to the tool 18 to move it axially of the cartridge 10, the tool 18 will not accidentally become disengaged with the cartridge 10.

If it is desired, a friction washer may be disposed between the confronting surfaces of the cam element 32 and the mounting lug 22 although in practice it has not been proved necessary to provide such a friction washer. The head 38 of the fastener 36 is provided. with a recess 50 with which an Allen wrench 52 may be engaged to adjust the positioning of the shank 40 and the fastener 36 in the threaded bore 34. The square opening may be 3 engaged by a square projection such as that indicated at 54 on the socket wrench handle 56 and it is to be noted that the handle 56 could be provided with an extension of the desired length if desired in order that the extension may be used to connect the handle 56 with the bottom wall 20 of the tool 18.

In operation, the cam element 32 is adjusted to the approximate position and the tool 18 is engaged with the cartridge i=9. The handle 56 may then be engaged with the opening 23 in the bottom wall 20 in order that sulficient torque may be applied to the tool 16 by means of the handle 56. It is to be understood that the tool 18 is primarily designed for removing the oil filter cartridge 10 inasmuch as it is normally sufficient to secure the new oil filter cartridge to an internal combustion engine by hand. The heat of the internal combustion engine between changing of the oil filters greatly increases the amount of torque needed to remove the oil filter 1t) and the tool 16 is specifically adapted to enable this increased amount of torque to be applied to the cartridge 10 by means of a tool such as the socket wrench handle 56.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool for replacing throw-away type oil filters of the type including a generally cylindrical casing threadedly engaged at one end with a supporting portion of an engine block, said tool comprising a body portion including a generally circular plate-like bottom wall having a low upstanding arcuate abutment wall extending about at least one side of the marginal edge portion of said bottom Wall, a cam element, means pivotally securing said element to an outwardly proiecting mounting lug portion extension of said body portion remote from a point along said abutment wall spaced equally from its opposite ends for movement about an upstanding axis, said element having a maximum radius substantially less than the radius of said abutment wall and a toothed cam surface opposing said abutment wall, said bottom wall including means defining a centrally disposed non-circular opening at a point generally defining the center of curvature of said abutment wall for the reception of a tool shank and applying torque to said bottom wall to rotate the latter about an axis gen erally coinciding with the center of curvature of said abutment wall, said pivotal securing means including means for frictionally retaining said cam element in adjusted rotated positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said abutment Wall includes a concave abutment surface defining a segment of a circle, a bore formed through said lug portion, a bore formed through said element, one of said bores being threaded, said pivotal securing means comprising a threaded fastener disposed through the other bore and threadedly engaged in said one bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,224,801 Sprung May 1, 1917 1,516,602 Hill Nov. 25, 1924 1,815,363 Proctor July 21, 1931 2,909,090 Moore Oct. 20, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,128 France Mar. 24, 194-7 979,774 France Dec. 13, 1950 

